Reproducing machine



y 1957 s. TANNER ET AL 2,793,569

REPRODUC I NG MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1954 INVENTOR.

8 TANNER NDINGER LAWRENCE ALFRED Ll W ATTORNEY y 28, 1957 L. S. TANNER ET AL, 2,793,569

REPRODUCING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LAWRENCE S TANNER BY ALFRED LINDINGER ATTORNEY United Sttes Patent C REPRODUCING MACHINE Lawrence S. Tanner and Alfred Lindinger, Van Dyke, Mich.

Application January 20, 1954, Serial No. 405,144

6 Claims. (Cl. 90-13.1)

Our invention relates to a new and useful improve ment in a reproducing machine, in which a tracer is caused to travel over the surface of a pattern or model and associated with such a structure that a cutter is caused to travel over a work-piece to reproduce a model of the work-piece.

The invention is particularly intended for use in reproducing models in reverse. For instance, if a pattern of a right hand fender has been made, or a punch for forming such fender has been made, a tracer would be caused to travel over the surface of such punch or pattern. However, having obtained the model for the right hand fender, it is necessary to obtain a model for the left hand fender. These two models would be the same but would be reversed as to direction, one being left and the other being right.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, easily operated and inexpensive means whereby a left-hand model may be used as a guide for guiding the cutting tool over the work piece in forming the righthand model, and vice versa.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanism of this type in which a maximum area may be covered.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure illustrated without departing from the invention, and it is intended that the present disclosure shall be considered to be but the preferred embodiment.

Forming a part of this invention are drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention with a part broken away.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, central, sectional view through a cross head of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a slight modification.

As shown in the drawings, a supporting bed 7 is provided with slide grooves 8 and 10, a table 9 sliding in the grooves 8 and a table 11 sliding in the grooves 10. Extending longitudinally of the bed from end to end thereof and below the lower surface thereof are slide rods 12 and 13 on which a slide 14 is slideably mounted. Projecting upwardly from this slide 14 is a supporting standard 15, on the upper end of which is the cross head 16 projecting laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the standard 15.

Extending from the cross head 16 and rotatable relatively thereto is the rod 17 carrying on one end a yoke 19 and on the opposite end a yoke 18. These yokes are adapted to rotate on a horizontal axis.

Swingably mounted in the yoke 19 is a supporting arm 20, and a supporting arm 21 is swingably mounted in the yoke 18.

Carried on the end of the arm 21 is a tracer 22, which is adapted to travel over the surface of the model or 2,793,569 Patented May 28, 1957 pattern 23, this model or pattern being adapted to slide on the table 11 lying in the grooves 24.

Mounted on the end of the arm 20 is a motor 25 for driving a cutting tool 35, this cutting tool 35 engaging the work-piece 26.

The travel of the cutting tool corresponds to the travel of the tracer. The cutting tool forms on the work-piece a contour of the pattern over which the tracer travels.

The rod 27 is pivotally connected at one end to the arm 21. A rod 28 is pivotally connected at one end to the arm 20. These two rods are connected at their opposite ends pivotally to the bolt 29 having a. head 29a which slides in the groove 30 formed in the block 31 which is secured by a weld 32 or in any other suitable manner to the member 17.

The construction is such that as the tracer is moved toward the cutter, the cutter will also move toward the tracer. Likewise, when the tracer is moved in a direction away from the cutter, the cutter will also move in a direction away from the tracer. In other words, when the arms 20 or 21 are rocked on their pivot pins 37 and 38 respectively, the ends of the arms will move in the opposite direction. Consequently, when the tracer is moved over the surface of the model or pattern 23, the cutting tool will move over the work-piece 26, but the reproduction of the work-piece, while corresponding in contour to the contour of the pattern 23, will be oppositely faced.

The construction is such that the standard 15 and its slide 14 may he slid on the rods 12 and 13 in response to very little pressure. Consequently, an operator, guiding the tracer 22 over the model or pattern 23, may move the standard 15 longitudinally of the bed 7 so as to longitudinally traverse the pattern 23. By swinging the arm 21 on the pivot 38 and rocking the yoke 18 upwardly or downwardly, all curves will be followed on the pattern.

In Fig. 1 we have shown the tables 9 and 11 of a small size in comparison to the supporting bed. The construction is such that the model or pattern may extend from end to end of the supporting bed and the tracer caused to traverse the entire surface of a pattern which extends substantially from end to end of a bed. This is effected by moving the standard 15 longitudinally of the bed its maximum distance in one direction. When this has been done, the tracer 22 and the cutter 35 with its motor 25' may be easily and quickly removed and. attached to the opposite ends of the arms 20 and 21, and the slide 14 moved in the opposite direction sufficient to cause all of the surface of the pattern to be traversed.

Experience has shown that with a machine of this type the cost of reproducing a left hand model from a right hand model and vice versa is considerably reduced, and at the same time a very close duplication of the two bodies is effected.

In Fig. 4 we have shown a slight modification in which the rods 27 and 28 of Fig. l have been eliminated. The standard 15a corresponds to the standard 15, and all of the other parts enumerated are the same, bearing the same numerals with the further identification of the letter a. A rod 34 serves to connect the arms 20a and 21a together so that these arms cannot swing away or toward each other but must move in a unit. When the arms 2% and 21a are tied together as shown in Fig. 4, an exact duplication is efiected instead of a reverse duplication.

What we claim is:

1. A machine of the class described, comprising: a supporting bed; a longitudinally disposed work supporting means on said bed along one side thereof; a longitudinally disposed pattern supporting means on said bed along the opposite side thereof; a slide centrally disposed on said bed between the work and the pattern supporting means and slideable lcn situdiaally thereof; a standard greases projecting upwardly from said slide and movable in unison therewith; a transversely disposed horizontally extending rod rotatably mounted on said standard at the upper end thereof; a yoke on each end of said rod; ,a supporting arm pivotally mounted in each of ,said yokes; a tracer mounted on one end of one of said supporting arms; a cutting tool mounted on the corresponding end of the other of said supporting arms; and means forconnecting the arms together for controlling relative movement ,of said arms at the ends on which said tracerand cutting tool are mounted.

2. A machine of the class described, comprising: a supporting bed; a longitudinally disposed work supporting means on said bed along one side thereof; a longitudinally disposed pattern supporting means on said bed along the opposite side thereof; a slide centrally mounted on said bed between the work and the pattern supporting means and slideable longitudinally thereof; a standard projecting upwardly from saidslide and movable in unison therewith; a transversely disposed horizontally extending rod rotatably mounted on said standard at the upper end thereof; a yoke on each end of said rod; a supporting arm pivotally mounted in each of said yokes; a tracer mounted on one end of one of said supporting arms; a cutting tool mounted on the corresponding end of the other of said supporting arms; a block fixedly mounted on said rod and rotatable therewith and having a guide groove formed therein; a stud slideable in said guide groove; a rod pivotally connected at one end to the tool-carrying end of one of the arms, and at its opposite end to said stud; and a second rod pivotally connected at one end to the tracervcarrying supporting arm and at its opposite end to said stud.

3. A machine of the class described, comprising: a supporting bed; a longitudinally disposed work supporting means on said bed along one side thereof; a longitudinally disposed pattern supporting means on said bed along the opposite side thereof; a slide centrally mounted on the bed between the work and pattern supporting means and slideable longitudinallyof said bed; a supporting standard mounted on and projecting upwardly from said slide and movable in unison therewith; a transverse cross head on the upper end of said standard projecting laterally outwardly from the opposite sides thereof; a rotatable rod projected through said cross head; a yoke mounted on each end of said rod, exterior of said cross head and rotatable in unison with said rod; a pair of supporting arms, each being swivelly mounted intermediate its ends in one of said yokes for swinging in unison on a horizontal axis; r

a tracer mounted on the end of one of said arms; a cutting tool mounted on the corresponding end of the other of said arms; and means for connecting said arms together for effecting, upon withdrawal of one arm from the other, a corresponding withdrawal of said other arm from the one.

4. A machine of the class described, comprising: a supporting bed; a longitudinally disposed work supporting means on said bed along one side thereof; a longitudinally disposed pattern supporting means on said bed along the opposite side thereof; a slide centrally mounted on the bed between the work and pattern supporting means and slideable longitudinally of said bed; a supporting standard mounted on and projecting upwardly from said slide and movable in unison therewith; a transverse cross head on the upper end of said standard projecting laterally outwardly from the opposite sides thereof; a rotatable rod projected through said cross head; a yoke mounted on each end of said rod, exterior of said cross head and rotatable in unison with said rod; a pair of supporting arms, each being swivelly mounted intermediate its ends in one of said yokes for swinging in unison on a horizontal axis; a tracer mounted on the end of one of said arms; a cutting tool mounted on the corresponding end of the other of said arms; and means, upon movement of said arms toward or away from each other, of effecting the identical movement .of withdrawal or approach in each of said arms.

5. A machine of the class described, comprising: a supporting bed; a longitudinally disposed work support ing means on said bed along one side thereof; a longitudinally disposed pattern supporting means on said bed along the opposite side thereof; a slide centrally mounted on the bed between the work and the pattern supporting means and slideable longitudinally of said bed; a supporting standard projected upwardly from said slide and movable in unison therewith; a pair of spaced apart sup porting arms; a transversely disposed means for rockably mounting each of said supporting arms intermediate its ends on said standard for rocking on a horizontal axis and on an axis extended at right angles to said horizontal axis; a tracer carried on the free end of one of said arms, for travelling over the surface of a model; a cutting tool mounted on the corresponding end of the other of said arms for travelling over a work-piece; and means for, upon movement of said tracer laterally outwardly from the center of said bed, effecting a corresponding lateral outward movement of the cutting tool in an opposite direction.

6. A machine of the class described, comprising: a supporting bed; a longitudinally disposed work supporting means on said bed along one side thereof; a longitudinally disposed pattern supporting means on said bed along the opposite side thereof; a centrally disposed slide on said bed between the work and pattern supporting means and slideable longitudinally of said bed; a supporting standard mounted on and projecting upwardly from said slide and movable in unison therewith; a transversely disposed cross head on the upper end of said standard projecting laterally outwardly from the opposite sides thereof; a rotatable rod projected through said cross head; a yoke mounted on each end of said rod, exterior of said cross head and rotatable in unison with said rod; a pair of supporting arms, each being swivelly mounted intermediate its ends in one of said yokes for swinging in unison on a horizontal axis; a tracer mounted on the end of one of said arms; a cutting tool mounted on the corresponding end of the other of said arms; and means for connecting said arms together for controlling relative movement of said arms at the ends on which said tracer and cutting tool are mounted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 679,120 Feron July 23, 1901 2,059,505 Wright Nov. 3, 1936 2,185,011 Anderson Dec. 26, 1939 2,433,421 Bowness Dec. 30, 1947 2,632,956 Crosby Mar. 31, 1953 2,635,340 Schwab Apr. 21, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 207,604 Germany Mar. 4, 1909 334,420 France Apr. 5, 1903 

